John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A rugged plunge into the icy waters of American history, Ford’s Terror by Richard A. Wiggins is a meticulous military novel that leans into energizing themes of exploration, fortitude, and personal growth. Lured by the intoxicating allure of Alaska at the dawn of the 20th century, naval draftsman and Master at Arms Harry Ford embarks on an epic mission to chart America’s newest and most untamed wilderness. Joining the motley crew of the U.S.S. Patterson, Harry must not only navigate his eclectic companions, but also the perils of traversing a strange new world with dangers at every turn. Though the […]

Magic portals, demonic spawn, and a classic crew of noble heroes make Sword of Vengeance by Chris Adams an immersive clash of good and evil. As the realm’s newest Guardian Knight, Gerald Cael is tasked with protecting the vulnerable from the same hellish horrors that scarred him as a child. Relying on his blade, pendant, and steadfast heart, this destiny-driven warrior rises to face an immortal turncoat that threatens the very fabric of the future. The novel may hit on some familiar sword-and-sorcery themes, but Adams weaves together an original epic with a complex hero at the helm, illustrating how […]

Inspiring, profound, and remarkable in its creativity, The 7th Disciple: Time Witness by WS Chang and E Chang is a sci-fi thriller with a deeply philosophical heart. Elliot’s college career is disrupted when he begins falling back through time, stumbling into his long-awaited destiny as a cosmic disciple, following in the footsteps of Einstein, Newton, and countless other visionaries before him. Side-stepping the expected tropes of time travel fiction and the paradoxical dangers of altering the present, the story instead focuses on the importance of self-knowledge in understanding our world. Exploring heady ideas of time, history, and the power of […]

An unflinching story of overcoming unimaginable loss and fitting into an unforgiving world, A Walk Through the Neighborhood by Nathan D. Boyd is a moving portrait of gritty city life and the trials of youth. After a heartbreaking betrayal by his father, Timothy Valentine II is sent to live with his Aunt Claire, where he is painfully forced to navigate the rougher sides of his new neighborhood. From first-time fistfights and side-money hustles to watershed decisions about burning out or getting out, this hard-edged novel pulls back the curtain on the crucible of poverty, violence, and desperation for many young […]

A relentless sci-fi thriller with touches of dystopian fiction, space opera, and even Lovecraftian horror, The Call of Abaddon by Colin Searle is an electric mash-up of genres. Eight years after escaping from a top-secret research institute, Jason finds himself scavenging in the depths below New Toronto, while his prodigious psychic abilities continue to grow. Hunted by a supreme alien intelligence and desperate governmental forces who need his untapped powers, Jason must learn to shield his mind from their control and unleash his full potential before an inconceivable cataclysm finishes humanity once and for all. With intricate world-building on the […]